Release Information

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Agent

Metzneria paucipunctella Zeller

Class: Insecta
Order: Lepidoptera
Family: Gelechiidae

Agent Name References:
- Story, J. and G.L. Piper. 2001. Status of biological control effects against spotted and diffuse knapweed. In L. Smith, Ed. Proceedings of the First International Knapweed Symposium of the Twenty-First Century. 15-16 March 2001, Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, USA; USDA Agricultural Research Service. pp. 11-17.

Weed

Centaurea diffusa Lam.

Family: Asteraceae
Common Name: diffuse knapweed

Origin: Eurasia

Weed Name References:
- Seastedt, T.R., D.G. Knochel, M. Garmoe, and S.A. Shosky. 2007. Interactions and effects of multiple biological control insects on diffuse and spotted knapweed in the Front Range of Colorado. Biological Control 42: 345-354.
- Story, J.M., G.L. Piper, and E.M. Coombs. 2004. Knapweeds. In E.M. Coombs, J.K. Clark, G.L. Piper, and A.F. Cofrancesco, Eds. Biological Control of Invasive Plants in the United States. Oregon State University Press, Corvallis, Oregon. pp. 196-232.

Weed Common Name References:
- Seastedt, T.R., D.G. Knochel, M. Garmoe, and S.A. Shosky. 2007. Interactions and effects of multiple biological control insects on diffuse and spotted knapweed in the Front Range of Colorado. Biological Control 42: 345-354.
- Story, J.M., G.L. Piper, and E.M. Coombs. 2004. Knapweeds. In E.M. Coombs, J.K. Clark, G.L. Piper, and A.F. Cofrancesco, Eds. Biological Control of Invasive Plants in the United States. Oregon State University Press, Corvallis, Oregon. pp. 196-232.

Weed Origin References:
- Seastedt, T.R., D.G. Knochel, M. Garmoe, and S.A. Shosky. 2007. Interactions and effects of multiple biological control insects on diffuse and spotted knapweed in the Front Range of Colorado. Biological Control 42: 345-354.
- Story, J.M., G.L. Piper, and E.M. Coombs. 2004. Knapweeds. In E.M. Coombs, J.K. Clark, G.L. Piper, and A.F. Cofrancesco, Eds. Biological Control of Invasive Plants in the United States. Oregon State University Press, Corvallis, Oregon. pp. 196-232.

Release and Source Information

List: 1 - Exotic Organisms Intentionally Introduced

Source: Ex. Switzerland via Canada
Year: 1980
Region: North America
Country: United States of America
Subregion of Country: MT, OR, WA
Subregion specific:

Release History: MT 1980-1984, OR 1981 1984-1985, WA 1981; Redistributed within OR 1995, MT 1997

Release Notes: Initially introduced onto Centaurea stoebe subsp. micranthos but spread naturally to C. diffusa. Also redistributed within OR to C. ×moncktonii (1983) in releases intended to contain Urophora quadrifasciata.

Source Information References:
- Coombs, E.M. 1997. Biological control of weeds in Oregon. Annual Report. Project summaries 1996. Oregon Department of Agriculture, Noxious Weed Control Program, Salem, Oregon, USA. 33 pp.
- ROBO Database. 2012. Release of beneficial organisms in the United States and Territories. USDA ARS. www.ars-grin.gov/nigrp/robo.html. 10 September 2012.
- Story, J.M. 1995. Spotted knapweed. In J.R. Nechols, L.A. Andres, J.W. Beardsley, R.D. Goeden, and C.G. Jackson, Eds. Biological Control in the Western United States: Accomplishments and Benefits of Regional Research Project W-84, 1964-1989. Publication 3361. University of California, Division of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Oakland, California. pp. 258-263.
- Story, J.M., G.L. Piper, and E.M. Coombs. 2004. Knapweeds. In E.M. Coombs, J.K. Clark, G.L. Piper, and A.F. Cofrancesco, Eds. Biological Control of Invasive Plants in the United States. Oregon State University Press, Corvallis, Oregon. pp. 196-232.
- Seastedt, T.R., N. Gregory, and D. Buckner. 2003. Effect of biocontrol insects on diffuse knapweed (Centaurea diffusa) in a Colorado grassland. Weed Science 51: 237–245.

Original Host Species

Unknown

Establishment

Established: Yes
Established in Subregion of Country: MT, OR, WA
Established in Subregion specific:

Establishment References:
- Coombs, E.M. 2013. (personal communication) Oregon Department of Agriculture, Noxious Weed Control Program, 635 Capitol St NE Salem, OR 97301 USA.
- Story, J.M., G.L. Piper, and E.M. Coombs. 2004. Knapweeds. In E.M. Coombs, J.K. Clark, G.L. Piper, and A.F. Cofrancesco, Eds. Biological Control of Invasive Plants in the United States. Oregon State University Press, Corvallis, Oregon. pp. 196-232.

Abundance

Limited

Abundance References:
- Coombs, E.M. 2013. (personal communication) Oregon Department of Agriculture, Noxious Weed Control Program, 635 Capitol St NE Salem, OR 97301 USA.
- Piper, G.L. 1997. (personal communication) Washington State University, Department of Entomology, Pullman, Washington 99164-6382, United States of America.
- Story, J.M., G.L. Piper, and E.M. Coombs. 2004. Knapweeds. In E.M. Coombs, J.K. Clark, G.L. Piper, and A.F. Cofrancesco, Eds. Biological Control of Invasive Plants in the United States. Oregon State University Press, Corvallis, Oregon. pp. 196-232.

Agent Impact

Impact: None
Geographic Scale of impact: None
Impact Notes: Principal host is Centaurea stoebe subsp. micranthos, but damages C. diffusa to a lesser extent. Typically less than 5% seed heads attacked; overall seed reduction negligible.

Impact References:
- Coombs, E.M. 2013. (personal communication) Oregon Department of Agriculture, Noxious Weed Control Program, 635 Capitol St NE Salem, OR 97301 USA.
- Piper, G.L. 1997. (personal communication) Washington State University, Department of Entomology, Pullman, Washington 99164-6382, United States of America.
- Story, J. and G.L. Piper. 2001. Status of biological control effects against spotted and diffuse knapweed. In L. Smith, Ed. Proceedings of the First International Knapweed Symposium of the Twenty-First Century. 15-16 March 2001, Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, USA; USDA Agricultural Research Service. pp. 11-17.
- Story, J.M., G.L. Piper, and E.M. Coombs. 2004. Knapweeds. In E.M. Coombs, J.K. Clark, G.L. Piper, and A.F. Cofrancesco, Eds. Biological Control of Invasive Plants in the United States. Oregon State University Press, Corvallis, Oregon. pp. 196-232.

Limiting Factors

None

Other Attack

Were other species attacked?: No
Other Species Attacked Notes:

Research Organizations

Oregon State Department of Agriculture, Salem (State (15))
Washington State University (State (9))

Notes




Based on: Winston, R.L., M. Schwarzlander, H.L. Hinz, M.D. Day, M.J.W. Cock, and M.H. Julien, Eds. 2024. Biological Control of Weeds: A World Catalogue of Agents and Their Target Weeds. Based on FHTET-2014-04, USDA Forest Service, Forest Health Technology Enterprise Team. Available online at https://www.ibiocontrol.org/catalog/ [Accessed 29 March 2024].

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